1. Citizen
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Citizen is tucked away in a lower level courtyard of a downtown office building, but if you can find the restaurant you will be happy with whatever you order. They serve breakfast all day (try the huevos rancheros), tortas, and salads. The sides are healthy and delicious.
2. Garnett’s Cafe
For such a small and cozy cafe, Garnett’s offers a wide variety of sandwich goodness. The Big Daddy (roast beef, ham, turkey, swiss, lettuce, tomato, dijon, and mayo on toasted Italian bread) and the Croque Monsieur are popular choices while the black-eyed pea salad and the French potato salad are good side options.
3. Lunch
Lunch: the name says it all. At this Scott’s Addition eatery, you can get breakfast until 3:00 p.m. as well as some of the best salads and sandwiches in town. Don’t forget to try the deviled egg of the day.
4. Union Market
Union Market is a popular lunch destination — and for good reason. The soups, salads, and sandwiches are excellent. I highly recommend the chicken tarragon sandwich with chicken salad, ginger plum jam, crispy chicken skins, and avocado. If you don’t have to go back to work, saddle up at the quaint bar area with a draft beer.
5. Perly’s
The Perly’s slogan is “Yiddish for Delicious” and I agree. This downtown Jewish deli has some of the best pastrami and matzoh ball soup you will find outside of NYC. For dessert, Seinfeld fans will want to try the babka (cinnamon takes a backseat to no babka!) and the black and white cookie.
6. The Black Sheep
The battleships are legendary at the Black Sheep. These extra long subs come filled with everything from chipotle roasted pork shoulder to jerk barbecued chicken to fried chicken livers. If the battleships are too intimidating for lunch, you cannot go wrong with anything on the menu.
7. The Continental
The Continental – located in the Libbie/Grove area in The Near West End – is never hurting for customers. The delicious sandwiches, burgers, and salads keep the locals coming back again and again. The club sandwich is big enough for two meals.
8. Millie’s Diner
Millie’s has been serving Church Hill’s lunch crowd since 1989. They offer wraps, sandwiches, omelets, and salads. A local favorite is the Devil’s Mess – an open-faced omelet of spicy sausage, onions, green peppers, tomatoes, and mild curry, finished with melted white cheddar and avocado.
9. Franklin Street Market
Franklin Street Market serves pizzas, sandwiches, fried chicken, and authentic Korean Bulgogi BBQ. Boxed lunches are filling and under $10. The market also has several good beers on tap so get your growler filled during lunch.
10. Toast
Toast is always a good option for lunch. The menu features interesting starters like fried pickles, shrimp and crab nachos, and bacon Gouda beef sliders to go along with a nice variety of sandwiches and salads. The Sloppy Joseph with Moroccan lamb and chorizo, grilled fennel, and garam masala aioli on brioche is an upscale sloppy Joe at its best.
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Matt Friedman, RVA Editor
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